Perry Local Board elects president and vice president, sets 2026 meeting calendar and standing authorizations

The Perry Local School District Board of Education elected Nicole Trekser president and Missus Foley vice president for 2026 during its organizational meeting, then set the district's regular meeting schedule and approved a series of standing authorizations meant to streamline routine fiscal and operational duties.

Board members began the meeting with a swearing-in; the oath included the name Jennifer Graham. Early in the organizational agenda, the board opened nominations and, after motions and a roll-call vote, "Nicole Trekser is elected president of the Board of Education for 2026," the board announced (statement read by the meeting host). A subsequent nomination and roll-call vote resulted in Missus Foley being elected vice president.

Why it matters: electing officers and approving standing authorizations establishes who will lead the board through the year and delegates routine authorities so the district can process payroll, pay bills, advertise bids and manage certain purchases without delay.

The board voted to set regular meetings on the second Monday of each month at 5:45 p.m. in the Charles Center/Public Center Conference Room and to hold monthly work sessions on the fourth Monday. Members discussed scheduling conflicts around Memorial Day and end-of-fiscal-year timing; the board agreed to schedule June's regular meeting on June 29 and move May's meeting to May 26 as exceptions, with the option to adjust times if needed.

On the standing-authorizations package the board approved requests that authorize the chief financial officer (or designee) to sign payroll and disbursement checks, secure advances from the county auditor when available, invest district funds consistent with law, pay bills within appropriations after goods/services are received, advertise bids per legal requirements, and increase appropriations as needed with subsequent board approval. The board also authorized the superintendent to hire temporary employees on a contingency basis pending background checks and allowed the superintendent to act as purchasing agent for amounts up to $15,000 without prior board approval (with specified exceptions such as bus purchases and utilities).

Board members raised clarifying questions during the discussion, including whether the referenced expense line would be used for board compensation or ordinary board expenses; members clarified the authorization is intended to cover expenses (mileage, conference costs) for the board rather than individual compensation.

The board also discussed appointments to external bodies, including the Perry Area Recreation Board. Members noted prior legal guidance that the recreation board requires two appointees and debated whether board members should serve. After discussion the board voted to table the appointment to the recreation board pending additional legal counsel input and to temporarily retain current appointees through the next meeting.

The organizational meeting adjourned at 6:27 p.m. and the board moved on to its regular meeting.

Quotes: "Nicole Trekser is elected president of the Board of Education for 2026," read the meeting host when announcing the result (at the time of vote). "So we'll have a work session each month on the fourth and then a regular meeting on the second" was stated as the motion to set the schedule, and members later clarified exceptions for Memorial Day week and end-of-fiscal-year timing.

Next steps: the board will revisit the tabled Perry Area Recreation Board appointment after consulting legal counsel at an upcoming meeting.